Basic background on Islam

2.  Islam means submission to god and peace
 Followers are called Muslims

3.  Muhammad=born in the 6th
century
 Worked with a caravan in his youth
 Married a wealthy woman and lived in Mecca
 At age 40, he met the angel
 Was told to “Recite”=this was a calling to spread this new
religion

4.  Muhammad was considered a sorcerer
 Called to settle a dispute in Medina
 Start of the Islamic calendar Link

5.  Muhammad won over the people of Medina
 Then he declared war on disbelievers
 Conquered local communities
 Took Mecca in 630
 Muhammad suddenly died in 632 CE
 When Muhammad died, he left no successor

7.  Sunni (majority)
 Muhammad’s father-in-laws selected Abu Bakr to be first
caliph
 Quran is the authority on all issues
 Shiite
 Muhammad’s cousin, Ali, should be successor
 Imam (a human spiritual leader) would be the authority

9.  Islam says men and women are equal
 Women are:
 Exempt from religious requirements when
pregnant
 In a divorce, women get ½ the estate
 May not wear inappropriate clothing
 Can legally receive physical punishment from
husbands

10.  Polygamy
 Men may have up to 4 wives
 All must be treated equally

11.  Sometimes spelled Koran
 Means “recitation”
 Used to study Arabic language
 Muslims regard it as revelations of god
transmitted through Muhammad
 Topics: Ceremonies, civil law, moral issues,
biblical characters
 Quran is a product of only Muhammad

12. 1. Recite=there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is
the prophet
2. Prayer 5 times per day (face Mecca)
• Mosque=building for prayer
• Friday is prayer day
1. Give alms (charity) to poor
2. Fasting during Ramadan link
• No food or drink during the day
1. Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Called Haji
• May make requirement by sending another

13.  Path that leads to god
 Applied to eating, sleeping, marriage,
politics, economics

14.  Jihad=holy war
 Designed to govern society, not conversion to Islam
 Today it is a defense against modernization or
Westernization

15.  Dome of the Rock
 In Jerusalem
 Believed to be where Muhammad ascended into
heaven

16.  Kaaba
 Site in Mecca in which Muslims pray towards

17.  Read the article
 Identify (write down):
 Summary
 2 Important Points
 1 Quote that Stood Out and Why?
 2 Questions

18.  Read the article
 Identify (write down):
 Summary
 5 Important Points
 3 Quotes that Stood Out and Why?
 Is this similar or different from your previous conceptions of
Islam? Why?

19.  Prepare a skit incorporating the following:
 Information from your notes
 Information from the article on “Women”
 Skit should provide a basic understanding of
Islam
 Must be informative
 Must be culturally sensitive
 Debrief at the end: What you did and why?